KAZ’S FEARLESS FORECAST

WEST ORANGE-STARK over HAMSHIRE-FANNETT—The Mustangs have already wrapped up the District 10-4A-II title, but need to head into next week’s bi-district round of the state playoffs with their current winning streak. The ‘Stangs also have won 45 straight league games over the past decade and want to keep that streak going. The Longhorns also should make the bi-districts, so they will be playing like it’s already a playoff game.

LITTLE CYPRESS-MAURICEVILLE over LUMBERTON—This game will determine the position of these two teams in the upcoming playoffs. If the Battlin’ Bears can score an upset victory on their home turf Friday night, they will assume the third spot in the final District 11-4A-I standings. A loss will pair them against a district champion in the first round of the playoffs.

SPLENDORA over BRIDGE CITY—The Cardinals would like nothing better than to finish the 2018 season with a two-game winning streak. But they have the odds stacked against them because they are playing a team that hasn’t suffered a district loss. And the game is at Splendora.

VIDOR over DAYTON—While the Pirates are searching for their first District 12-5A victory, their Friday visitors are hoping for their first win of the entire season. Vidor should wind up the 2018 season on a winning note.

ORANGEFIELD over ANAHUAC—Although the Bobcats will miss the state playoffs, a victory at Anahuac Friday night will give them a very respectable 6-4 record. That’s something on which to build for next season.

WEST SABINE over DEWEYVILLE—It’s been a disappointing season for the Pirates. Perhaps if they play one of their best games of the season, they could start next season with a positive attitude.

HIGH SCHOOL—Beaumont West Brook over Baytown Sterling (Thursday); Deer Park over Beaumont United, Port Neches-Groves over Nederland (Upset Special), Liberty over Hardin-Jefferson, Jasper over Center, Buna over Kirbyville, East Chambers over Warren, Woodville over Hardin, Kountze over New Waverly, Newton over Anderson-Shiro, Groveton over Hull-Daisetta, Evadale over Lovelady, Tomball Rosehill Christian over Beaumont Legacy Christian (All Friday); Port Arthur Memorial over Houston Austin (Saturday).

LAMAR over HOUSTON BAPTIST—The Cardinals are on a roll and the winning streak should continue Saturday night at Provost-Umphrey Field in Beaumont. Since the Redbirds have found a running game, they have been hard to beat.

McNEESE STATE OVER NORTHWESTERN STATE—The Cowboys have been so difficult to figure out this year—they win some of the games where they are the underdog and lose games in which they are favored. The Pokes have always had a hard time winning up in Natchitoches, so they probably are the underdogs in this game, although a win will keep them in a first-place tie with Incarnate Word and Nicholls State for the Southland Conference championship.

COLLEGE—Miami, O. over Ohio and Toledo over Northern Illinois (Both Today); North Carolina State over Wake Forest (Thursday); Syracuse over Louisville and Fresno State over Boise State (Both Friday); Sam Houston State over Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word over Central Arkansas, Nicholls State over Stephen F. Austin, BYU over Massachusetts, SMU over Connecticut, West Virginia over TCU, Penn State over Wisconsin, Michigan over Rutgers, Pittsburgh over Virginia Tech, Clemson over Boston College, Central Florida over Navy, South Carolina over Florida, Tulsa over Memphis, Duke over North Carolina, Georgia Southern over Troy, Grambling State over Alabama A&M, Mississippi Valley State over Hampton, Marshall over Charlotte, Jackson State over Alabama State, Virginia over Liberty, Kentucky over Tennessee, Alabama over Mississippi State, North Texas over Old Dominion, Tulane over East Carolina, Southern over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas State over Coastal Carolina, Georgia State over Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe over South Alabama, Florida Atlantic over Western Kentucky, Georgia over Auburn, Miami over Georgia Tech, Louisiana Tech over Rice, UAB over Southern Mississippi, Akron over Eastern Michigan, Nebraska over Illinois, Kansas State over Kansas, Maryland over Indiana, Ohio State over Michigan State, Missouri over Vanderbilt, Central Michigan over Bowling Green, Iowa over Northwestern, Iowa State over Baylor, Purdue over Minnesota, Cincinnati over South Florida, Notre Dame over Florida State, Texas A&M over Ole Miss, Middle Tennessee State over UTEP, Oklahoma over Oklahoma State, Appalachian State over Texas State, Florida International over UT-San Antonio, Houston over Temple, LSU over Arkansas, Texas over Texas Tech, Arizona State over UCLA, Air Force over New Mexico, Washington State over Colorado, Utah State over san Jose State, Oregon over Utah, Idaho over Montana, Stanford over Oregon State, Colorado State over Nevada, San Diego State over UNLV, Southern Cal over California.

PRO PICKS—Pittsburgh over Carolina (Thursday Night); Kansas City over Arizona, NY Jets over Buffalo, Chicago over Detroit, Indianapolis over Jacksonville, Tampa Bay over Washington, New Orleans over Cincinnati, New England over Tennessee, Atlanta over Cleveland, LA Chargers over Oakland, Green Bay over Miami, LA Rams over Seattle, Philadelphia over Dallas (All Sunday); San Francisco over NY Giants (Monday Night). Bye week for Houston, Denver, Baltimore and Minnesota.